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Stanfield Elementary School in Arizona reports that school buses may be the safest form of highway transportation; however, the most dangerous part of the school bus ride is getting on and off the school bus. There are three times as many school bus-related fatalities when compared to school bus occupant fatalities when buses are loading and unloading. Science Daily calls it the “Danger Zone” when speaking about the loading and unloading area. The “Danger Zone” is the area on all sides of the bus where children are in the most danger of not being seen by the driver (Ten feet in front of the bus where the driver may be too high to see a child, ten feet on either side of the bus where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot, and the area behind the school bus).

More than half of the pedestrian fatalities in school bus-related crashes happen to children between 5 and 7 years old. Young children are most likely to be struck because they are always in a hurry and getting on and off the bus is no exception. Children also act before they think, and they do not have very much experience dealing with traffic. Being very trusting, they often assume that motorists will see them and wait for them to cross the street. Also, knowing whether or not they are in the bus driver’s sight may prove a challenge for young children. Studies have also shown that many drivers illegally pass stopped school buses that are loading/unloading students thus increasing the probability of pedestrian fatalities.

What should students and motorists do?

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) says:

Students should:

• Arrive at the bus stop five minutes early.
• Stand at least 5 giant steps (10 feet) away from the edge of the road.
• Wait until the bus stops, the door opens, and the driver says it is okay before stepping onto the bus.
• Be careful that clothing with drawstrings and book bags with straps or dangling objects do not get caught in the handrail or door when exiting the bus.
• Walk in front of the bus; never walk behind the bus.
• Walk on the sidewalk or along the side of the road to a point at least five giant steps (10 feet) ahead.
• Be sure the bus driver can see you, and you can see the bus driver.
• Stop at the edge of the bus and look left-right-left before crossing.
• Tell the bus driver if you drop something beside the bus. Should you try to pick it up, the bus driver may not see you and drive into you. 

Motorists should:

• Be aware it is illegal in every state to pass a school bus stopped to load/unload students.
• Know and understand laws governing motorist’s driving behavior near a school bus.
• Learn the “flashing signal light system” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists if they are going to stop to load/unload students.
  1. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children.
  2. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.
  3. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate that the bus has stopped, and that children are getting on or off. Motorists MUST stop their cars.
• Begin moving only when the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn and the bus begins to move.
• Donot block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
• Slow Down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in the neighborhood. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops.
• Be Alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.

“Being involved in a traffic accident while loading or unloading a school bus, can, and should, be prevented. If your child or someone you love has been involved in a school bus-related accident, contact us for a no-fee consultation,” said Naples Child Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

Naples Child Injury Attorney Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.